The Province intends to help more people build their family by increasing access to fertility services related to assisted reproduction technology (ART). In order to increase access to the ART service of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the IVF-related service of fertility preservation (FP), the Province is contributing to the cost of IVF and FP services in order to improve affordability. People will continue to pay the cost of the associated drugs, as well as other unfunded ancillary services delivered in support of IVF and FP, including genetic testing, purchasing genetic material, and storing or transferring genetic material. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 1. Who is eligible for this program and are there any restrictions? The Ministry of Health & Long Term Care (MOHLTC) Fertility Program is open to residents of Ontario with a valid Ontario Health Card, whether they are people who are receiving services to build their own families, or people who are receiving services to help others build their family. Eligibility for the program is not based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, or family status. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Services: You are eligible for funded IVF Services if you are under 43 years of age. Fertility Preservation (FP) Services: You are eligible for FP Services if you have been diagnosed by a physician as having any medical condition where a side effect of the planned treatment for the medical condition is known to affect fertility and may lead to infertility. 2. Are there any restrictions to receiving this Program? a. The program is for those who are under 43 years of age (at the time eligibility has been verified with the Province). b. There is a limit of one funded IVF cycle and one funded FP cycle that a patient is able to receive over their lifetime. c. All funded IVF services must adhere to a single embryo transfer policy (see table). 2 3. Which costs are covered by the program? Which fees am I still responsible for? AGE* MAXIMUM NUMBER OF EMBRYO(S) PERMITTED PER EMBRYO TRANSFER (APPLIES TO BOTH FRESH AND FROZEN EMBRYOS) Up to Age 35 1 embryo per transfer, regardless of the embryo(s) development stage. Ages 36 & 37 1 embryo per transfer, if at blastocyst stage of embryo development; or 2 embryos per transfer, if at day 3 of embryo development. Ages 38+ 2 embryos per transfer, regardless of the embryos development stage. Exception: After 3 failed transfers using 1 embryo per transfer, may proceed to 2 embryos per transfer. * Age does not refer to the age of the Primary IVF Patient at the time the Embryo Transfer is performed, but instead refers to the age of the Primary IVF Patient (or Secondary IVF Patient or egg donor) at the time the Oocyte Retrieval was performed. SERVICES COVERED BY THE FUNDING PROGRAM NOT COVERED (PAID BY PATIENT) • Medical assessments during the cycle including cycle monitoring visits • Blood and ultrasound tests during the Cycle • Egg Retrieval • Embryology services such as ICSI, assisted hatching and blastocyst culture • Medications • Purchasing of genetic material (eggs and/or sperm • Genetic Testing (PGS or PGD) • Storage of genetic material (frozen eggs, embryos and/ or sperm) SET POLICY FOR ALL FUNDED IVF SERVICES 3 Funded In Vitro Fertiliation (IVF) & Fertility Perservation (FP) Anova Fertility TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY, TOMORROW’S HOPE. & REPRODUCTIVE H EALTH anovafertility.com For any additional questions, please contact our clinic and speak with a nurse: 416-225-4440.
Transcript
The Province intends to help more people build their family by increasing access to fertility services related to assisted reproduction technology (ART).
In order to increase access to the ART service of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and the IVF-related service of fertility preservation (FP), the Province is contributing to the cost of IVF and FP services in order to improve affordability.
People will continue to pay the cost of the associated drugs, as well as other unfunded ancillary services delivered in support of IVF and FP, including genetic testing, purchasing genetic material, and storing or transferring genetic material.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Who is eligible for this program and are there any restrictions?
The Ministry of Health & Long Term Care (MOHLTC) Fertility Program is open to residents of Ontario with a valid Ontario Health Card, whether they are people who are receiving services to build their own families, or people who are receiving services to help others build their family.
Eligibility for the program is not based on sex, gender, sexual orientation, or family status.
In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Services: You are eligible for funded IVF Services if you are under 43 years of age.
Fertility Preservation (FP) Services: You are eligible for FP Services if you have been diagnosed by a physician as having any medical condition where a side effect of the planned treatment for the medical condition is known to affect fertility and may lead to infertility.
2. Are there any restrictions to receiving this Program?
a. The program is for those who are under 43 years of age (at the time eligibility has been verified with the Province).
b. There is a limit of one funded IVF cycle and one funded FP cycle that a patient is able to receive over their lifetime.
c. All funded IVF services must adhere to a single embryo transfer policy (see table).
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3. Which costs are covered by the program? Which fees am I still responsible for?
AGE*MAXIMUM NUMBER OF EMBRYO(S) PERMITTED PER EMBRYO TRANSFER
(APPLIES TO BOTH FRESH AND FROZEN EMBRYOS)
Up to Age 351 embryo per transfer, regardless of the embryo(s) development stage.
Ages 36 & 37
1 embryo per transfer, if at blastocyst stage of embryo development; or
2 embryos per transfer, if at day 3 of embryo development.
Ages 38+2 embryos per transfer, regardless of the embryos development stage.
Exception:After 3 failed transfers using 1 embryo per transfer, may proceed to 2 embryos per transfer.
* Age does not refer to the age of the Primary IVF Patient at the time the Embryo Transfer is performed, but instead refers to the age of the Primary IVF Patient (or Secondary IVF Patient or egg donor) at the time the Oocyte Retrieval was performed.
SERVICES COVERED BY THE FUNDING PROGRAM
NOT COVERED (PAID BY PATIENT)
• Medical assessments during the cycle including cycle monitoring visits
• Blood and ultrasound tests during the Cycle
• Egg Retrieval
• Embryology services such as ICSI, assisted hatching and blastocyst culture
• Medications
• Purchasing of genetic material (eggs and/or sperm
• Genetic Testing (PGS or PGD)
• Storage of genetic material (frozen eggs, embryos and/or sperm)
SET POLICY FOR ALL FUNDED IVF SERVICES
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Funded In Vitro Fertiliation (IVF) & Fertility Perservation (FP)
Anova Fertility
TODAY’S TECHNOLOGY, TOMORROW’S HOPE .
& R E P R O D U C T I V EH E A L T H
anovafertility.com
For any additional questions, please contact our clinic and speak with a nurse: 416-225-4440.
FUNDED CYCLE
ENTRY TYPE FUNDED CYCLE END POINTS
a. Patient to undergo an egg retrieval
b. Patient to undergo an embryo transfer
c. Patient has frozen eggs (own) to use from a previous single IVF cycle
d. Patient has frozen donated eggs to use from previous single IVF cycle
e. Patient has frozen embryos (own) to use from previous single IVF cycle
f. Patient has frozen donated embryos to use from previous single IVF cycle
• 2 attempts at Cycle Monitoring have been performed and cancelled prior to going for an egg retrieval in both instance; or
• 1 attempt at an Egg Retrieval was performed but no viable eggs were retrieved and/or survived; or
• 1 attempt at Sperm Retrieval has been performed and no viable sperm were collected and the Primary IVF Patient does not proceed by using an alternate sperm source; or
• Embryology services required to fertilize eggs and culture embryos using all eggs resulting from the applicable Funded IVF Cycle Entry Type have been performed and no viable embryos resulted; or
• Embryology services required to thaw and culture all frozen embryos resulting from the applicable Funded IVF Cycle Entry Type have been performed and no viable embryos are available for Embryo Transfer; or
• Embryo Transfers for all fresh and frozen embryos resulting from the applicable Funded IVF Cycle Entry Type have been performed or are no longer available to be transferred (such as, if they were destroyed); or
• The Primary IVF Patient has concluded care and one of the following has occurred:
o At least one attempt at Cycle Monitoring has been performed for Funded IVF Cycle Entry Type a or b;
o Embryology services have been performed for Funded IVF Cycle Entry Type c or d; or
o At least one Embryo Transfer has been performed for Funded IVF Cycle Entry Type e or f.
6. I am not eligible for this Program but I still want to access IVF Services. Can I access these services at Anova Fertility?
Yes, patients of Anova Fertility who do not meet the Patient Eligibility criteria of the Ministry, but still want to have access to IVF Services, can do so by paying for all services related to IVF as before.
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Please indicate to the staff if this is your situation so they can provide you with the appropriate information and Fee Schedule needed for you to proceed with treatment.
7. I currently have frozen embryos created from one previous cycle, can I receive funding for a Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)?
Yes, a patient can receive IVF funding for FETs using embryos resulting from a single IVF cycle previously undergone. If a patient uses this funding for this purpose, they will not receive any further funding for future fresh IVF cycles.
8. I currently have two batches of frozen eggs (my own or a donor’s) created from previous cycles, can I receive funding for fertilization and an embryo transfer of all of those eggs?
No, only one batch of eggs would be eligible to be included in your Funded IVF cycle. Future cycles would be outside the Funding Program (the regular IVF Fee Schedule would apply).
9. Do you have a wait list and how long is it?
Our Clinic maintains an updated Wait List using our audited Electronic Medical Records system. Only current patients of our Clinic who have been evaluated by one of our Specialists will be added to our Wait List.
As this is the start of this new Ministry initiative, we cannot yet predict how long it will take for patients on the list to receive their initial funded cycle.
10. If I am on your Clinic's wait list, am I guaranteed to have a Funded Cycle at your Clinic?
Every Clinic participating in this Program has been granted a specific budget allocation in which they can provide these Funded Services. As the demand from Ontarians for IVF Funded Services will likely be greater than each individual Clinic's budget allocation (end of March), the Clinic may need to put you on the wait list for the next Fiscal period (April - March of the next Funding Year). We will inform affected patients if that need arises.
11. I don't want to go through a Funded IVF Cycle until 2017. Can I put my name on the wait list now?
No, patients cannot be added to a future Wait List until funding by the Ministry has been confirmed.
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• Embryo Transfer
• Embryo and/or sperm freezing
• Egg Freezing, if necessary due to medical diagnosis of the Primary IVF Patient that causes infertility
• Sperm Collection or Sperm Retrieval if necessary due to medical reasons related to the Secondary IVF Patient
• Preparation of sperm resulting from Sperm Collection, Sperm Retrieval, or pre-existing donor sperm batches, including thawing and sperm washing
• Shipping of genetic material (eggs, embryos and/or sperm) from one Clinic to another
• Implications Counselling required if Patient is using the services of an egg donor, sperm donor and/or gestational surrogate
• Legal agreements related to the Patients use of egg donation, sperm donation and/or gestational surrogacy
4. How do I participate in this program?
If you are currently a patient, please contact your Specialist's office to discuss with the nurse your cycle start. Prior to your cycle start, you are required to sign a written consent in order to participate in this program. This consent allows Anova Fertility to disclose the patient's Ontario health card number to the Province for the purposes of the Program.
If you are not currently a patient, please contact your Physician for a referral to Anova Fertility.
5. When is a Funded IVF Cycle considered over?
Due to the complex nature of IVF, the Ministry has set out specific Funded IVF "Entry Types" and "End Points. When a patient reaches one of the End Points, any further treatment would be at their expense.
See chart on page 5 for Entry Types and End Points.
